This month can quickly consume us as we prepare for the holiday season. In this busy time of trying to find that perfect gift for that special person, Sarah Albanese pauses for just a moment to reflect on a beautiful life lesson: “Everything in life is given to us as a gift. Sometimes, we may not see the gift or understand until many years later, but nothing just ‘happens’ by chance.”
At 47, Sarah is a self-proclaimed hobbyist. She plays golf, pickleball, and tennis, is a mother of three, and has enjoyed a career as an interior designer. She has always been a doer and a dreamer.
“Growing up, I’d always dreamed of having a pony.” It was in 2020 that her husband spurred Sarah’s dream into reality. “My family and I were in the midst of life during the pandemic and planning my daughter’s wedding when my husband looked at me one day and said, ‘You’ve always wanted a horse. You need to get a horse.’ I couldn’t believe it.” Although it seemed like an impractical pursuit in the moment, just a few months later, Sarah and her family would realize what a gift the timing was. In the wake of an unspeakable tragedy within her family, Sarah recalls, “Life had provided. We were enduring grief and loss together, in the barn, day after day with my horse, grooming her, communing, and rebuilding as a family.”
It would be three years before Sarah would begin riding. “It wasn’t until I began riding that I truly understood what passion is. I don’t think I could live a day without riding now. I am so lucky.” Sarah describes the connection with her horse as unexplainable. “We have spent so much time together and work together so closely; we are just one. I know what he is going to do, and he knows what I am going to do. It’s a bond that I am eternally grateful for.”
Her pursuit of riding also fostered a consistent workout routine. “I began going to the gym after I started riding lessons because I knew I needed to strengthen my core. After changing my vegan diet to include more seafood and working out six times a week, I lost 20 pounds.” Sarah participates in spin and barre classes and does weight training, among other things.
“I think every day, ‘I really get to do this?! This is my dream.’” She encourages that if you have your own dream, patience is sometimes necessary but is always worth it.
When asked where her energy comes from, she stated, “It’s rooted in my faith. I generally love life. I’m thankful for the life I have and for life in general. When I am on my horse, I feel it is he and I against the world.“
In her midlife, Sarah has realized a lifelong dream. “My advice to women is we give so much to spouses, friends, children, be kind to yourself and don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself when the time is right. Age is just a number. Try something you’ve always dreamed of!”
The transformation of a childhood dream into a reality and true passion is one of the best treasures one can receive in life. Perhaps that is why it is no wonder, amidst serendipitous undertones of Sarah’s life, that the name of one of her horses is Reggie — short for Dem EL Regalo, translated from Spanish as ‘The Gift.’
By Amanda Tompkins
Photo by Sean Davis
